A little more than a month ago, I was glued to the television watching the aftermath of the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida.  As a parent of a high school student, it was emotional for me realizing this could happen at any school, anywhere in the United States.  In the days and weeks after, I spent a lot of time observing the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas take to the streets and travel to Tallahassee and fly to Washington to stand up for a cause.  I was watching as a father, but also through the lens of the Hands of Peace Executive Director and our work with young people. 

Each summer, some of the Hands of Peace participants ask "but what can a 16-year-old actually do?"  Looking at the Parkland students, we see the answer.  These young people are raising their voices as leaders of change.  They are standing up and speaking out on an issue they feel is important to them.  

Within the past week, high school students across the United States walked out of class to raise their voices - in many cases facing severe repercussions from their schools.  Many other students organized and chose to NOT walk out, raising their voices as advocates of gun rights by staging "walk-ins".  Regardless of our personal beliefs,  we should be proud of students on all sides of the debate who educated themselves about the issues, followed their hearts, and respectfully raised their voices to take a stand. Many recent American Hands of Peace alumni participated in the events last week.  We admire their courage - whether they walked out or walked in. 

So what can a 16-year-old actually do?  They can make their voices heard on issues that are important to them.  They can become true leaders of change by standing up for what they believe, by learning to listen and by learning how to persevere.  When it is easy.  But especially when it is hard.  

This is what we stand for.